Minister of Environment Yasmin Fouad said that Al-Azhar was at the forefront of the institutions that showed support for Egypt’s hosting of the upcoming climate conference COP27 and contributed constructive ideas and visions.
Fouad praised the speech of the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar in the Vatican on climate, which reflected the pioneering model Egypt will provide to the world by hosting the largest multilateral international conference that touches on a vital issue for the continuation of humanity, and works to make future generations aware and capable of addressing the effects of climate change.
The minister’s statement came during the announcement of an initiative, titled “Our climate our life”, on Monday under the patronage of Al-Azhar Grand Imam Ahmed Al-Tayeb and the Minister of Environment, as part of the country’s preparations to host COP27.
The initiative was launched in the presence of Mohamed Al-Dawaini, the undersecretary of Al-Azhar; Nazir Mohamed Ayad, the secretary-general of the Islamic Research Complex; and Salama Dawood, the president of Al-Azhar University.
Fouad pointed out that her Ministry launched a media campaign under the title “Return nature to nature”, to raise awareness of the need to address the imbalance in the environment.
As for the new initiative, the minister said it will be comprehensive, integrated, and innovative. She explained that it will achieve integration of climate change issues and the Islamic sharia law.
The initiative will rely on social media campaigns and awareness convoys, which highlights the image of the “New Republic”, which is based on the solidarity of all spectrums of the nation, and goes beyond the climate conference.
The initiative includes weekly convoys for a year, monthly awareness campaigns, 24 workshops, and training session for 100 preachers on climate change awareness, in co-operation with Al-Azhar Center for Forensic Astronomy and Space Sciences. Those preachers will make field visits to climate research centres, and a global competition will be held to present a legal vision for climate research and a specialized edition of the Islamic Research Academy on Climate.
Al-Dawaini said that the initiative emerges from Al-Azhar’s religious and national duty, expressing his hope for the success of this initiative and that it will be a serious step on the path of climate awareness.
He stressed that the unprecedented scientific and technological renaissance that the world is currently witnessing in various fields has had positive and negative impacts on humanity, transforming man into a consumer.
Al-Dawaini pointed out that the West has understood this, as the report of the Intergovernmental Panel on climate change gave the world a clear deadline to avoid disaster, as by 2030, greenhouse gas emissions must be reduced so as not to cause a climate catastrophe that is difficult to prevent.
He noted that Al-Azhar welcomed the conclusion of a cooperation protocol with the Ministry of Environment last July to strengthen joint cooperation in the field of raising environmental awareness nationwide.
Al-Azhar has prepared an integrated educational and training plan, where various sectors of Al-Azhar would participate in its implementation.
Al-Dawaini explained that the initiative is part of the national strategy for climate change 2050, and the protocol of cooperation between Al-Azhar and the Ministry of Environment.
